oct 2011: i apologize to all my spark friends for my exit from sparkland. my dh's already fragile health had declined and then my family suffered a tragedy that i cannot begin to recover from in the loss of my 4 year old grandson garrett.

3-29-10 it's so nice to be back in the spark groove, i feel better already and ready to set more long term goals for myself. i really feel like i will have a great 2010! make 2010 a great year for you too - if i can do it, anyone ...

oct 2011: i apologize to all my spark friends for my exit from sparkland. my dh's already fragile health had declined and then my family suffered a tragedy that i cannot begin to recover from in the loss of my 4 year old grandson garrett.

3-29-10 it's so nice to be back in the spark groove, i feel better already and ready to set more long term goals for myself. i really feel like i will have a great 2010! make 2010 a great year for you too - if i can do it, anyone can. woohoo for sparkland!

03/27/10 here i am, ready to be back to the spark site. its been several months since i was an active member, but i hadn't quit working at my goals so much as i just didn't participate here. many factors were involved, starting with computer issues... add in a major teen/stepfamily problem... a nasty winter accompanied by an extreme case of winter blahs bordering on true clinical depression... my daughter struggling with single mom/college and my 2yo gr-son significantly ill and having seizures. so sparking dropped to the bottom of my priorities.

now: daughter and grandson both doing well, family issues are being truly worked at though not resolved, computer replaced, spring is in the air and my overall optimism and mood is better daily.

3-6-09

a year has flown by and i'm still plugging along. i am very happy and satisfied with my progress so far. my focus and goal was to get stronger in order to keep up with the needs of my life. i have done that and so much more. i've had a lot of obstacles in my path, made some detours, and even done some backsliding. but overall, i have been able to make permanent changes in my attitude toward exercise and food that will help keep me stronger and healthier all my life.

02/28/08 hi, i'm here to take my life back. i have allowed myself to slip gradually into a mental and physical slump over the past few years. now it is time to make time for myself -for the benefit of me and my family - to become a healthier/stronger/happier person. like everyone who struggles through life, i have many obstacles to this goal - some real, some only perceived, some are just plain excuses for lack of effort. my plan for now is to start with increasing activity, and trying to make healthier food choices. the tracking and counting of calories in and expended may be satisfying and motivating to some - but overwhelms me to the point of inaction. so for now, i will not use these great tools. i do read articles and spark pages, i hope the success of others will continue to inspire me to keep on toward my goals.

5/29/08 i have made a good start. after 90 days, i am much stronger and have so much more endurance. not so much huffing and puffing with exertion. i am not really seeing a difference in my clothes or the mirror, yet. i am happy with my progress.